The top storyline coming into Saturday's SEC showdown is the status of Arkansas quarterback Tyler Wilson, who was injured in the Razorbacks' Week 2 loss to Louisiana-Monroe.

Wilson threw for more than 3,600 yards and 24 touchdowns in 2011 and threw for 563 yards and five touchdowns before going down this season. Freshman Brandon Allen will likely get the start if Wilson can't go on Saturday vs. Alabama.

The defending national champion Alabama Crimson Tide are the top team in the country at the moment, and can ill-afford to loss at Arkansas on Saturday if they want to keep their bid for a repeat title alive.

For Arkansas, last weekend's loss to Louisiana-Monroe has all but ended its shot at the BCS National Championship Game. The Razorbacks can get back into the Top 25 with a win over the Tide at home though.

Our secondary’s got to prepare for the different looks they’re going to get scheme-wise. We’ve played some great games against Arkansas before, and I feel like we’re going to play a great game against them again.

Although the Crimson Tide are the favorites on Saturday, they will be behind enemy lines in Arkansas, where the Razorbacks will boast a significant home-field advantage.

This is just a bump in the road. How are we going to react? Just like they came in here and beat us, we can go in there and beat Alabama. It’s just all about how we prepare and how we execute.

Davis makes an excellent point. Louisiana-Monroe proved last Saturday that anything can happen in college football.

Alabama Player to Watch

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Freshman running back T.J. Yeldon has looked amazing early on this season. The 6'2", 216-pound back is averaging eight yards per carry and 14.6 yards per reception coming into Saturday's matchup.

Yeldon carried the ball 11 times for 111 yards and a touchdown in Alabama's opener against Michigan, and will certainly be a nuisance for the Razorbacks in Fayetteville this weekend.

Arkansas Player to Watch

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For the Razorbacks, junior running back Knile Davis will be the player to keep an eye on against Alabama. With Tyler Wilson's health status uncertain, Davis will likely be called on to lead the Arkansas offense.

The Texas native has rushed for 132 yards and two touchdowns on 34 carries in two games this September. At 6'0", 226 pounds, Davis will bring a physical presence to the field for the home team.

Key Matchup

The biggest matchup in Saturday's game between Alabama and Arkansas will be the Razorbacks' offense versus the Crimson Tide defense. Alabama has allowed just 14 points and 493 total yards through the season's first two weeks.

Although Arkansas has put up more than 470 total yards and 40 points per game in its first two matchups, I like the Alabama defense to win this one. They have shut out their opponent in six of eight quarters this fall, and have not allowed a touchdown in five consecutive quarters.

On the Hot Seat

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Former Arkansas special teams coach John L. Smith was named head coach of the Razorbacks football program this offseason after the dismissal of Bobby Petrino, but finds himself in danger of going 1-2 in his first three games as head man in Fayetteville.

Although a loss to the nation's top team wouldn't be the end of the world, it would mean that Smith would have to dig his football team out of a tremendous early-season hole in order to make the case for why he should remain the head coach in 2013.

Prediction

Regardless of whether Tyler Wilson plays or not, I can't see Arkansas winning this game. Alabama's defense looks far too dominant and the Crimson Tide had an easy time with the Razorbacks last year, winning by 24 at home. It will be closer on the road, but Nick Saban's squad still gets the win.

Alabama 37, Arkansas 17

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